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Tag Archives: Chicago

A loud CRASH breaking the silence, followed by raining shards of glass hit the parquet floor, my polish grandfather had crafted.

Scrambling up the stairs, a jagged gaping hole through the window pane in the living room. Icy Chicago winter air curling around us. My grandmother now frozen in disbelief, tears running down her round cheeks.

Inching closer to the grenade, I reached for the large hunk of black coal wrapped in brown butcher’s paper, tied with string.

The scribbled lettering said “Get out polack, if you know what is good for you.”

Now my whole body was trembling. Should I translate the words to Busia?

Her head now shaking uncontrollably, left to right, left to right, as she dabbed the tears with her flour covered apron, she understood the message that pierced her core, that pierced her view of the prairie.

Would she stay or would she leave the home in the land of the free, she escaped to at a mere sixteen, risking everything. This home she built with her husband to raised her six children?

This manicured ray of sunshine reflects the personality of inspirational lecturer and UNC – TV Host Bryce Lane and his ‘behind the scenes leading lady’… Sue Lane!
A virtual horticultural classroom & plant collector’s garden – designed to inspire…

I had the pleasure of hearing a talk by Bryce Lane over a decade ago, at a Master Gardener meeting…

The topic was “Soils”…

As a city /suburban gal from Chicago, I was new to getting my hands dirty. I had no earthly idea that there was a field of study called Horticulture or Plant Science… but on that day, after Bryce’s lecture, I came away inspired…

In an hour, Bryce made soil sound so fascinating. We were all so “fired” up about dirt! I had only wished I had heard that talk before heading off to college, I might have chosen Horticulture Science as my major. But instead that lecture changed the way I thought about well… everything! It is the source, the root of the plants we grow, the food we eat! What happens in the soil stays in the soil…I had no idea it could be so down right provocative!

Bryce Lane has received so many awards for teaching and inspiring at NC State University, I can just see him blushing as he reads this.

He is also a sought after speaker/lecturer with talks such as:

“The Birth of a Greenhouse: A history of manipulation!”

“Gardening on the Edge: Latest Trends in Gardening”

“Is it Warm in Here?” New Approaches to Gardening in our Changing Climate

“You’re not From Around These Parts”: Gardening With Native & Exotic Plants

“Eliminating Murder: How Not to Kill Plants!”

Bryce shares two Emmy awards with his Garden – the co-star of his virtual classroom on his weekly television program – “In the Garden With Bryce Lane” on UNC TV and his high school sweetheart Sue Lane.

They welcome you to the Lane Family Garden

How long have you been gardening at this location

30 years!

What is the first thing you did on the property?

Removing over 100 Liriope that were planted everywhere! I gave them to the the person who sold me his house for his new home!

How much time do you spend working in your garden?

Varies significantly, 5 to 20 hours per week. Less now that it is established.

Do you collect plants and if so what?

Depends on the month… I have been through many plant stages… Japanese Maples, Datura and Brugmansia, Colocasia, Heuchera, Dwarf Conifers, etc.

Any favorite Garden tools?

AM Leonard soil knife and Felco pruners are the bombs!

What is your mulch preference?

Cheapest, most available and what suits my mood at the time of year. I have used pine straw, hardwood bark, yard waste, compost, and soil conditioner.

Anything new added to your garden?

Driftwood piece from family vacation this past June at Emerald Isle. Fished it out of the ocean with my 4 year old Grandson Ellis.

Describe where you most often sit in your garden or looking out at your garden.

A few places, Our sun room looks out into the garden so sun room time on Saturday mornings is special… feel like we are sitting out in the garden. The patio is also a great place to sit. Kitchen window is also a great vantage point.

How much time do you spend just enjoying your garden? And what type of things…

See sun room time answer. Anytime I am in my garden working or otherwise, I enjoy it!

Do you have garden wisdom’ to share?

In gardening “disaster spells opportunity”. And as gardeners we need to honest with ourselves about how much direct sun we actually have!

Perhaps we’ll get an advance peak at the latest featured Plant of the week!